Improvement in horseshoes



UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MCPHERSON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSESHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 5I,73S, dated DeeelnherQG, 1865.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES McPHERsoN, of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented anew and useful Improvementin Horseshoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being 'had to the annexed drawings, making a part ot' 'this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my invention applied to the hoof. Fig. 2 is a view of the inside of my improved steel spring-clasp. Fig. 3 is an edge view thereof, and Fig. 4 is a sectionalv view of the screw by which the spring-clasp is held to the shoe.

In the eti'orts hitherto made to fasten on horseshoes without nailing to the hoof, rigid adjustment, and from the contraction ot' the.

hoof repeated removals, and, besides, are often mischievous when applied to diseased hoofs; and it is the object ot' my invention to remedy these detects; and to this end my invention consists in attaching the shoe to the hoof by steel spring-claspsthat shall yield to the growing hoof, shrink upon the contracting hoof, and accommodate the pressure of theshoe to the diseased hoof, so as to afford the best facilities for its restoration to a sound condition.

I form the shoe A exactly to tit the trimmed hoot B, leaving depressions O in the shoe to receive the-springclasps, so that when applied they shall be nearlylevel with the edge of the shoe. Then I form a recess, I), in the hoof to receive the upper `portion'ot' the steel springclasp E, the recess being deepest atthe top to y receive the clinch F of the clasp. The clasp E is made of Springsteel, and tapers in thickness t'rom the base G to the clinch F, Where it is thinnest, and the clinch is made suciently strong to retain constantly a tirrn hold upon the outer wall ot' the hoof. The springclasp E is bent in a curve of less radius than the trimmed recess in the hoot', and the depression in the slice and its base is punched or drilled to receive the screw H, which fastens it permanently' in place.

It is obvious that the width ot' the springclasp may be varied to suit the condition of the hoot' or the work required, and also that the screw-heads may be countersunk s o as to be light for summer or for racing shoes; that they may terminate in square heads or pointed -fest that it will hold with an elastic pressure which will yield ias the hoof shall grow and bind as the hoot may shrink, and, further, that while it will hold the shoe securely it will not contract the heels of the horse or oti'er any obstruction to the healing ofa diseased hoot'tthat could arise from the cramping ofthe shoe.

What I claim as `my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the steel spring-clasp with -the slice, when constructed, arranged, and operating substantially in the manner and tor the purpose described.

In testimony whereof 'I have hereunto 'subscribed my naine.

JAMES MCPIIERSON. Witnesses:

EDM. F. BROWN, Jos. I. PEYfroN. 

